Andy Vaughn

Hi all,

I've been following this discussion and wanted to chime in. When I first started racing mountain bikes (1993), the tendency was towards longer single-circuit or at most two-lap races. Granted, I raced mostly in Northern CA, but I would also travel up to Ashland/Jacksonville for the Revenge of the Siskyous.

In the mid 90's there was a real boom in XC racing, and all of a sudden races were getting larger sponsors (Sobe, Nabisco) and a dramatic increase in attendance (I would sometimes race in 100+ person categories). In response, many of the UCI races were shortened to include more laps or more overlap for more spectator visibility.

Unfortunately, this was not enough for the sponsors, as visibility/spectator interaction was higher in other sports, no matter how much visibility you gave to the mountain bike races. So, a bunch of the sponsors pulled out and went to other sports like Rodeo.

In the mean time, many of the racers got fed up with the tedium of doing the same course multiple times over (or in the case of overlapping track - extraordinarily large amounts of drastic elevation gain/loss to provide more visibility). Plus, if even if you're at the front of the pack, you're suffering - a change in scenery would always be pleasant.

In conclusion, I think the ebb and flow of mountain bike racing has shown that the races are for the racers. Provide a truly kick-ass course, and the racers will come. The old races like Whiskeytown Classic, Rockhopper, Big Foot, Mad River, Lake Oroville Classic, Revenge of the Siskyous, the original Mammoth and Big Bear courses (20+ mile loops), were all a testament to that. In 1994 at Nationals, the Expert JUNIOR class had over 100 people competing, the Expert 19-24 class had over 200! We at OBRA can do our part, since we are still a major mecca of mountain biking - heck look up mountain biking on Amazon, and half of the books are about mountain biking in Oregon.

Thanks to all you promoters out there. Keep up the good work. It's truly appreciated.

My 2 Cents

-Andy Vaughn
mtnracer.com

Pistis Mountain Bike Racing Team

The 2 Short Track Series in Sothern Oregon are also great races for all ages.

Cliff McCann

Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 18:43:41 -0800From: Joe@fieldjerger.comTo: obra@list.obra.orgSubject: Re: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

I agree with Ron. The Portland Short Track series is a great family activity – for kids of all ages!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Joseph A. Field Field Jerger LLP Oregon National Building 610 SW Alder Street, Ste. 910 Portland, OR 97205 Tel. (503) 228 – 9115 Fax (503) 225- 0276 E mail: joe@fieldjerger.com
Visit us on the web at: www.fieldjerger.com
The information contained in this message may be privileged and confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the message and deleting it from your computer.
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From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On Behalf Of Ron and Dorothy StrasserSent: Monday, January 28, 2008 5:32 PMTo: Eric Kytola; obra@list.obra.orgSubject: Re: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

It is not XC, but if you bring them to Portland Racing Short Track, they can experience some racing that will help them gain some confidence. If you want length... they can race the Junior race and get some laps in!.

----- Original Message -----

From: Eric Kytola

To: obra@list.obra.org

Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:04 AM

Subject: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

promoters: you have three more racers waiting to race. I raced XC a lot in years past. I started racing road when I had kids. why? because having my wife and 2 year old son sit in a gravel parking lot waiting for me to come back 3 hours later got....stupid. then I would attend races myself but I was gone for the ENTIRE day...stupid. so I raced road because it doesn't take nearly as much of the day (most races are right off of I5).

well my kids are older now (nearly 8 and almost 10). they are ready to race. in fact starting in July we started riding 1-3 days a week for a few hours at a time. but....no races appropriate for kids! 13 miles is way too far for them and I am not driving to a XC race so they can ride a circle in a gravel parking lot.

I really want to take then to race XC! give me some races to take them to. I am not racing XC without them. they are small, light, skinny and fit. they can NOT ride for any length of time in rain (they will freeze). they can't ride in mud for hours (they will freeze). they can't do 13 miles in the spring races (they will freeze). they need warm weather!! they ride when it's dry and warm. so there needs to be races later in the summer. so they can build their fitness (as soon as it warms up) and not worry about freezing. and they need courses that are between 200m long gravel courses and 13 mile epic 8 year old loops. I take them to nearly every crit and road race I go to so they can race. I am spending money on making sure they have good bikes. right now, they both have XC mountain bikes.

but if the opportunity isn't there....then they are going to be forced to get into something else. like free riding. I can just as easily buy them free ride bikes, full face helmets, shin guards and drive them to blackrock for the day.

for XC to grow, we need to focus on getting kids out there. otherwise they will find something else expend their effort and enthusiasm on, leaving XC for the 35+ year olds.

Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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Pistis Mountain Bike Racing Team

Ya, I agree, It would be easy to do a 12 and under class at some races. As long as their is enough riders to do it. I am all for getting the kids hooked at a early age. My son had so much fun at Pickett Charge last year he was hooked. I also want to thank all the Pro and Experts that were so cool to him on the trail. Picketts is good the way it is for the younger rider. I don't know if I will have my son do some of the other races. Team Pistis has 3 riders 12 and under. I will go out of my way to do the races that they can do. Funny how things change as we get older. Cliff

From: rondot@spiritone.comTo: mountainbikepros@msn.com; eric.kytola@kingrs.com; obra@list.obra.orgSubject: Re: [OBRA Chat] xc racingDate: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 17:40:58 -0800

As a rider, my perspective would make me believe that each course has real potential for good kids races. They almost all have small loops that would work well for the kids without being too small for the slightly older ones. The really young ones are easier to deal with. The only course that I think would be tough for kids because it is just UP and DOWN is Falls City. But the kids might just do fine on the lower loop there.

----- Original Message -----
From: Pistis Mountain Bike Racing Team
To: Eric Kytola ; obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] xc racing
I to have the same isue. My son will be racing 11 this year. He did 3 races last year (Pickitts, Jedi and Dimond Lake). Pickitts and the Jedi were perfict for him. I am putting on the Jedi. If we have more than 3 U12 riders I would give them their own class. The Jedi Beginner course is perfict for that age and I know the course will be marked so they can't get lost because my son will be out their. I really wish other races would have something set for younger kids. Lets get them hooked early. Cliff McCann

Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:04:42 -0800From: Eric.Kytola@kingrs.comTo: obra@list.obra.orgSubject: [OBRA Chat] xc racing
promoters: you have three more racers waiting to race. I raced XC a lot in years past. I started racing road when I had kids. why? because having my wife and 2 year old son sit in a gravel parking lot waiting for me to come back 3 hours later got....stupid. then I would attend races myself but I was gone for the ENTIRE day...stupid. so I raced road because it doesn't take nearly as much of the day (most races are right off of I5).

well my kids are older now (nearly 8 and almost 10). they are ready to race. in fact starting in July we started riding 1-3 days a week for a few hours at a time. but....no races appropriate for kids! 13 miles is way too far for them and I am not driving to a XC race so they can ride a circle in a gravel parking lot.

I really want to take then to race XC! give me some races to take them to. I am not racing XC without them. they are small, light, skinny and fit. they can NOT ride for any length of time in rain (they will freeze). they can't ride in mud for hours (they will freeze). they can't do 13 miles in the spring races (they will freeze). they need warm weather!! they ride when it's dry and warm. so there needs to be races later in the summer. so they can build their fitness (as soon as it warms up) and not worry about freezing. and they need courses that are between 200m long gravel courses and 13 mile epic 8 year old loops. I take them to nearly every crit and road race I go to so they can race. I am spending money on making sure they have good bikes. right now, they both have XC mountain bikes.

but if the opportunity isn't there....then they are going to be forced to get into something else. like free riding. I can just as easily buy them free ride bikes, full face helmets, shin guards and drive them to blackrock for the day.

for XC to grow, we need to focus on getting kids out there. otherwise they will find something else expend their effort and enthusiasm on, leaving XC for the 35+ year olds.

Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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Joseph A. Field

I agree with Ron. The Portland Short Track series is a great family
activity - for kids of all ages!

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Joseph A. Field
Field Jerger LLP
Oregon National Building
610 SW Alder Street, Ste. 910
Portland, OR 97205
Tel. (503) 228 - 9115
Fax (503) 225- 0276
E mail: joe@fieldjerger.com

Visit us on the web at: www.fieldjerger.com

The information contained in this message may be privileged and
confidential and protected from disclosure. If the reader of this
message is not the intended recipient, or an employee or agent
responsible for delivering this message to the intended recipient, you
are hereby notified that any dissemination, distribution or copying of
this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received this
communication in error, please notify us immediately by replying to the
message and deleting it from your computer.

Any U.S. tax advice contained in the body of this e-mail was not
intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, by the recipient for
the purpose of avoiding penalties that may be imposed under the Internal
Revenue Code or applicable state or local tax law provisions.

________________________________

From: obra-bounces@list.obra.org [mailto:obra-bounces@list.obra.org] On
Behalf Of Ron and Dorothy Strasser
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 5:32 PM
To: Eric Kytola; obra@list.obra.org
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

It is not XC, but if you bring them to Portland Racing Short Track, they
can experience some racing that will help them gain some confidence. If
you want length... they can race the Junior race and get some laps in!.

----- Original Message -----

From: Eric Kytola

To: obra@list.obra.org

Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:04 AM

Subject: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

promoters: you have three more racers waiting to race. I raced
XC a lot in years past. I started racing road when I had kids. why?
because having my wife and 2 year old son sit in a gravel parking lot
waiting for me to come back 3 hours later got....stupid. then I would
attend races myself but I was gone for the ENTIRE day...stupid. so I
raced road because it doesn't take nearly as much of the day (most races
are right off of I5).

well my kids are older now (nearly 8 and almost 10). they are
ready to race. in fact starting in July we started riding 1-3 days a
week for a few hours at a time. but....no races appropriate for kids! 13
miles is way too far for them and I am not driving to a XC race so they
can ride a circle in a gravel parking lot.

I really want to take then to race XC! give me some races to
take them to. I am not racing XC without them. they are small, light,
skinny and fit. they can NOT ride for any length of time in rain (they
will freeze). they can't ride in mud for hours (they will freeze). they
can't do 13 miles in the spring races (they will freeze). they need warm
weather!! they ride when it's dry and warm. so there needs to be races
later in the summer. so they can build their fitness (as soon as it
warms up) and not worry about freezing. and they need courses that are
between 200m long gravel courses and 13 mile epic 8 year old loops. I
take them to nearly every crit and road race I go to so they can race. I
am spending money on making sure they have good bikes. right now, they
both have XC mountain bikes.

but if the opportunity isn't there....then they are going to be
forced to get into something else. like free riding. I can just as
easily buy them free ride bikes, full face helmets, shin guards and
drive them to blackrock for the day.

for XC to grow, we need to focus on getting kids out there.
otherwise they will find something else expend their effort and
enthusiasm on, leaving XC for the 35+ year olds.

Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments,
contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic
communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in
nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that
you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing,
or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please
reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error,
and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your
cooperation.

________________________________

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Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Ron and Dorothy Strasser

As a rider, my perspective would make me believe that each course has real potential for good kids races. They almost all have small loops that would work well for the kids without being too small for the slightly older ones. The really young ones are easier to deal with. The only course that I think would be tough for kids because it is just UP and DOWN is Falls City. But the kids might just do fine on the lower loop there.
----- Original Message -----
From: Pistis Mountain Bike Racing Team
To: Eric Kytola ; obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

I to have the same isue. My son will be racing 11 this year. He did 3 races last year (Pickitts, Jedi and Dimond Lake). Pickitts and the Jedi were perfict for him. I am putting on the Jedi. If we have more than 3 U12 riders I would give them their own class. The Jedi Beginner course is perfict for that age and I know the course will be marked so they can't get lost because my son will be out their. I really wish other races would have something set for younger kids. Lets get them hooked early.

Cliff McCann

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:04:42 -0800
From: Eric.Kytola@kingrs.com
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

promoters: you have three more racers waiting to race. I raced XC a lot in years past. I started racing road when I had kids. why? because having my wife and 2 year old son sit in a gravel parking lot waiting for me to come back 3 hours later got....stupid. then I would attend races myself but I was gone for the ENTIRE day...stupid. so I raced road because it doesn't take nearly as much of the day (most races are right off of I5).

well my kids are older now (nearly 8 and almost 10). they are ready to race. in fact starting in July we started riding 1-3 days a week for a few hours at a time. but....no races appropriate for kids! 13 miles is way too far for them and I am not driving to a XC race so they can ride a circle in a gravel parking lot.

I really want to take then to race XC! give me some races to take them to. I am not racing XC without them. they are small, light, skinny and fit. they can NOT ride for any length of time in rain (they will freeze). they can't ride in mud for hours (they will freeze). they can't do 13 miles in the spring races (they will freeze). they need warm weather!! they ride when it's dry and warm. so there needs to be races later in the summer. so they can build their fitness (as soon as it warms up) and not worry about freezing. and they need courses that are between 200m long gravel courses and 13 mile epic 8 year old loops. I take them to nearly every crit and road race I go to so they can race. I am spending money on making sure they have good bikes. right now, they both have XC mountain bikes.

but if the opportunity isn't there....then they are going to be forced to get into something else. like free riding. I can just as easily buy them free ride bikes, full face helmets, shin guards and drive them to blackrock for the day.

for XC to grow, we need to focus on getting kids out there. otherwise they will find something else expend their effort and enthusiasm on, leaving XC for the 35+ year olds.

Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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Ron and Dorothy Strasser

It is not XC, but if you bring them to Portland Racing Short Track, they can experience some racing that will help them gain some confidence. If you want length... they can race the Junior race and get some laps in!.
----- Original Message -----
From: Eric Kytola
To: obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:04 AM
Subject: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

promoters: you have three more racers waiting to race. I raced XC a lot in years past. I started racing road when I had kids. why? because having my wife and 2 year old son sit in a gravel parking lot waiting for me to come back 3 hours later got....stupid. then I would attend races myself but I was gone for the ENTIRE day...stupid. so I raced road because it doesn't take nearly as much of the day (most races are right off of I5).

well my kids are older now (nearly 8 and almost 10). they are ready to race. in fact starting in July we started riding 1-3 days a week for a few hours at a time. but....no races appropriate for kids! 13 miles is way too far for them and I am not driving to a XC race so they can ride a circle in a gravel parking lot.

I really want to take then to race XC! give me some races to take them to. I am not racing XC without them. they are small, light, skinny and fit. they can NOT ride for any length of time in rain (they will freeze). they can't ride in mud for hours (they will freeze). they can't do 13 miles in the spring races (they will freeze). they need warm weather!! they ride when it's dry and warm. so there needs to be races later in the summer. so they can build their fitness (as soon as it warms up) and not worry about freezing. and they need courses that are between 200m long gravel courses and 13 mile epic 8 year old loops. I take them to nearly every crit and road race I go to so they can race. I am spending money on making sure they have good bikes. right now, they both have XC mountain bikes.

but if the opportunity isn't there....then they are going to be forced to get into something else. like free riding. I can just as easily buy them free ride bikes, full face helmets, shin guards and drive them to blackrock for the day.

for XC to grow, we need to focus on getting kids out there. otherwise they will find something else expend their effort and enthusiasm on, leaving XC for the 35+ year olds.

Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

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Paul Greenwalt

I did the same thing...start xc racing (early '90's), started family and switched to road for the convenience of the family, and last year started back racing xc. My kids are still too young to race, 2 and 6, but I decided to go for quality (handful of xc races) not quantity (and that's why I favor races spread out over the year). My wife occasionally went to the xc races before we had kids, and she spent much of the time hiking and sightseeing. Maybe there would be some benefit to the promoters if have links to hikes, camping, etc in the area (give the family a reason to come).

As someone else already mentioned, if there is a forum outside of this email thread that considers how to improve xc and attract participants, I'd be interested to get involved.

Thanks,
Paul
----- Original Message -----
From: Pistis Mountain Bike Racing Team
To: Eric Kytola ; obra@list.obra.org
Sent: Monday, January 28, 2008 10:48 AM
Subject: Re: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

I to have the same isue. My son will be racing 11 this year. He did 3 races last year (Pickitts, Jedi and Dimond Lake). Pickitts and the Jedi were perfict for him. I am putting on the Jedi. If we have more than 3 U12 riders I would give them their own class. The Jedi Beginner course is perfict for that age and I know the course will be marked so they can't get lost because my son will be out their. I really wish other races would have something set for younger kids. Lets get them hooked early.

Cliff McCann

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:04:42 -0800
From: Eric.Kytola@kingrs.com
To: obra@list.obra.org
Subject: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

promoters: you have three more racers waiting to race. I raced XC a lot in years past. I started racing road when I had kids. why? because having my wife and 2 year old son sit in a gravel parking lot waiting for me to come back 3 hours later got....stupid. then I would attend races myself but I was gone for the ENTIRE day...stupid. so I raced road because it doesn't take nearly as much of the day (most races are right off of I5).

well my kids are older now (nearly 8 and almost 10). they are ready to race. in fact starting in July we started riding 1-3 days a week for a few hours at a time. but....no races appropriate for kids! 13 miles is way too far for them and I am not driving to a XC race so they can ride a circle in a gravel parking lot.

I really want to take then to race XC! give me some races to take them to. I am not racing XC without them. they are small, light, skinny and fit. they can NOT ride for any length of time in rain (they will freeze). they can't ride in mud for hours (they will freeze). they can't do 13 miles in the spring races (they will freeze). they need warm weather!! they ride when it's dry and warm. so there needs to be races later in the summer. so they can build their fitness (as soon as it warms up) and not worry about freezing. and they need courses that are between 200m long gravel courses and 13 mile epic 8 year old loops. I take them to nearly every crit and road race I go to so they can race. I am spending money on making sure they have good bikes. right now, they both have XC mountain bikes.

but if the opportunity isn't there....then they are going to be forced to get into something else. like free riding. I can just as easily buy them free ride bikes, full face helmets, shin guards and drive them to blackrock for the day.

for XC to grow, we need to focus on getting kids out there. otherwise they will find something else expend their effort and enthusiasm on, leaving XC for the 35+ year olds.

Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser! Learn more.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------

_______________________________________________
OBRA mailing list
obra@list.obra.org
http://list.obra.org/mailman/listinfo/obra
Unsubscribe: obra-unsubscribe@list.obra.org

Pistis Mountain Bike Racing Team

I to have the same isue. My son will be racing 11 this year. He did 3 races last year (Pickitts, Jedi and Dimond Lake). Pickitts and the Jedi were perfict for him. I am putting on the Jedi. If we have more than 3 U12 riders I would give them their own class. The Jedi Beginner course is perfict for that age and I know the course will be marked so they can't get lost because my son will be out their. I really wish other races would have something set for younger kids. Lets get them hooked early. Cliff McCann

Date: Mon, 28 Jan 2008 10:04:42 -0800From: Eric.Kytola@kingrs.comTo: obra@list.obra.orgSubject: [OBRA Chat] xc racing

promoters: you have three more racers waiting to race. I raced XC a lot in years past. I started racing road when I had kids. why? because having my wife and 2 year old son sit in a gravel parking lot waiting for me to come back 3 hours later got....stupid. then I would attend races myself but I was gone for the ENTIRE day...stupid. so I raced road because it doesn't take nearly as much of the day (most races are right off of I5).

well my kids are older now (nearly 8 and almost 10). they are ready to race. in fact starting in July we started riding 1-3 days a week for a few hours at a time. but....no races appropriate for kids! 13 miles is way too far for them and I am not driving to a XC race so they can ride a circle in a gravel parking lot.

I really want to take then to race XC! give me some races to take them to. I am not racing XC without them. they are small, light, skinny and fit. they can NOT ride for any length of time in rain (they will freeze). they can't ride in mud for hours (they will freeze). they can't do 13 miles in the spring races (they will freeze). they need warm weather!! they ride when it's dry and warm. so there needs to be races later in the summer. so they can build their fitness (as soon as it warms up) and not worry about freezing. and they need courses that are between 200m long gravel courses and 13 mile epic 8 year old loops. I take them to nearly every crit and road race I go to so they can race. I am spending money on making sure they have good bikes. right now, they both have XC mountain bikes.

but if the opportunity isn't there....then they are going to be forced to get into something else. like free riding. I can just as easily buy them free ride bikes, full face helmets, shin guards and drive them to blackrock for the day.

for XC to grow, we need to focus on getting kids out there. otherwise they will find something else expend their effort and enthusiasm on, leaving XC for the 35+ year olds.

Electronic Privacy Notice. This e-mail, and any attachments, contains information that is, or may be, covered by electronic communications privacy laws, and is also confidential and proprietary in nature. If you are not the intended recipient, please be advised that you are legally prohibited from retaining, using, copying, distributing, or otherwise disclosing this information in any manner. Instead, please reply to the sender that you have received this communication in error, and then immediately delete it. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
_________________________________________________________________
Shed those extra pounds with MSN and The Biggest Loser!
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Eric Kytola

promoters: you have three more racers waiting to race. I raced XC a lot
in years past. I started racing road when I had kids. why? because
having my wife and 2 year old son sit in a gravel parking lot waiting
for me to come back 3 hours later got....stupid. then I would attend
races myself but I was gone for the ENTIRE day...stupid. so I raced road
because it doesn't take nearly as much of the day (most races are right
off of I5).

well my kids are older now (nearly 8 and almost 10). they are ready to
race. in fact starting in July we started riding 1-3 days a week for a
few hours at a time. but....no races appropriate for kids! 13 miles is
way too far for them and I am not driving to a XC race so they can ride
a circle in a gravel parking lot.

I really want to take then to race XC! give me some races to take them
to. I am not racing XC without them. they are small, light, skinny and
fit. they can NOT ride for any length of time in rain (they will
freeze). they can't ride in mud for hours (they will freeze). they can't
do 13 miles in the spring races (they will freeze). they need warm
weather!! they ride when it's dry and warm. so there needs to be races
later in the summer. so they can build their fitness (as soon as it
warms up) and not worry about freezing. and they need courses that are
between 200m long gravel courses and 13 mile epic 8 year old loops. I
take them to nearly every crit and road race I go to so they can race. I
am spending money on making sure they have good bikes. right now, they
both have XC mountain bikes.

but if the opportunity isn't there....then they are going to be forced
to get into something else. like free riding. I can just as easily buy
them free ride bikes, full face helmets, shin guards and drive them to
blackrock for the day.

for XC to grow, we need to focus on getting kids out there. otherwise
they will find something else expend their effort and enthusiasm on,
leaving XC for the 35+ year olds.

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